Mechanism for controlling looms by the quantity of weft in the shuttles.



No. 709,910. Patented Sept. 30, I902.

\ J. H. KLERX.

MECHANISM FOR CONTROLLING LOOMS BY THE QUANTITY 0F WEI-T IN THE SHUTTLES.

(Application filed. Dec. 10, 1901.)

(No Model.) I 2-Sheets-Sheei l.

WITNESSES: v I INVENTOR I I I m Hum nth KIM/ Q,

MM }I 1\\ BY l hmmlamww HIS ATTORNE S.

norms PETERS (20.. pn u'rcyu'ma. WASHINGTON n c No. 709,9"); Patented Sept. 3-0, I902.

J. H. KLERX. MECHANISM FOR CONTROLLING LOOMS BY THE QUANTITY OF WEFT IN THE SHUTTLES.

(Application filed Dec. 10, 1901.) (No Model.) I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

- INVENTOR K h/x, MM! fl wv H i S ATTORNEYS.-

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

J OHANN HEINRICH KLERX, OF SUNBURY, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNO R TO SUSQUEI-IANNA SILK MILLS, OF SUNBURY, PENNSYLVANIA, A COR- PORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

MECHANISM FOR CONTROLLING LOOMS BY THE QUANTITY OF WEFT IN THE SHUTTLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 709,910, dated September 30, I902.

A Application filed December 10. 1901'. Serial No. 85,329. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern..-

Be it known that I, J OHANN HEINRICH KLERX, of Sunbury,.Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Mechanism for Controlling Looms by the Quantity of Weft in the Shuttles, of which the followingis a specification.

My invention relates to mechanism for controlling a loom by the quantity of weft in a shuttle thereof and more particularly to mechanism intended for effecting or bringing about the operation of a loom-stop mechanism or a weft-supplying mechanism upon the failure or substantial exhaustion of the weft.

I will describe a mechanism embodying my invention and then point out the novel features in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is atop view of a mechanism embodying my invention, together with a sufficient portion of a loom to illustrate its application thereto. Fig. 2 is a front view of the mechanism illustrated in Fig; 1. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but partly in section and the parts in a different position. Fig. 4 is a section taken on the plane 4 4 of Fig. l, and Fig. 5 is a section taken on the plane 5 5 of Fig. l.

Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

A designates one shuttle-box of the loom of usual type and mounted as usual upon the lay-beam A of the lay. The lay and concomitant parts as Well as the shuttle-box being of well-known construction need not be further described here. Any usual forms may be employed, as these parts are not of the essence of my invention.

B designates a shuttle which may be of ordinary form, except that it is provided with a side opening at b on that side which is toward the breast-beam of the loom to permit the entry into the shuttle of a feeler device hereinafter to be described. The shuttle-box is provided with a corresponding opening at a.

The form of shuttleI have'illustrated is provided with a cop-holding spindle b hinged at one end of the shuttle-body by means of a pin, the hinged end of the spindle fittinginto a mortise in the shuttle-body and the bottom of the mortise preventing the spindle from being swung down into the shuttle-cavity below a horizontal position. As usual, a spring may be employed for holding the spindle in a horizontal position, but so as to permit it to be swung upwardly when necessary.

0 designates a member which may sometimes be employed in connection with the feeler device hereinafter described. It is secured, preferably, within the body of the shuttle and in such manner as to be free to swing toward and from the spindle b of the shuttle. I preferably employ spring action tending to move the member O inwardly or outwardly and for this purpose have here madeit resilient for some portion of its length and secured it to the shuttle at that end which is farthest from the opening I), the free end of the member O being adjacent to said opening.

The feeler device already referred to is adapted to enter periodically int-0 the shuttle, so as to contact and press the member 0 when employed toward the Weft upon the spindle. As the filling or weft is exhausted in weaving the innermost position or limit of movement of the member 0 progressively advances toward the spindle.

D represents a feeler device. Its purpose is through its movement toward the weft in the shuttle and the regulation therebyafforded in accordance with the amount of weft in the shuttle to bring about or control the operation of mechanism for replenishing filling or weft when the supply thereof is exhausted toa'predetermined extent or to bring about the operation of a loom-stop mechanism.

In this particular example of my invention the feeler device D is shown to consist of a part D fitted to move to and fro, as by sliding, and for this purposebearings are provided in upward projections d d from a bracket (1 that issecured to a fixed part of the loom. The movement of the part Dis toward and from the lay. To move it toward the lay, for convenience a spring d is employed,which acts upon one of the bearings d and upon. a stop 61 connected to the part D, and said stop by contacting the other bearing d limits the movement toward the lay.

drepresents a part forming an extension of and suitably connected with the part D of the feeler device D, and it is constructed to enter the shuttle and press upon the weft therein through the medium of the member 0 when that member is employed. This occurs on every second heat-up of the lay, and the effect is to cause the feeler device on each second beat-up to move in a direction opposite to that in which it is moved by the action of spring d When the lay recedes, the feeler device is returned to the normal position of Figs. 1 and 4 through said spring. In this way the feeler device is made to vibrate in harmony with the lay and, as I have shown, under control of the weft or filling in the shuttlethat is, the extent to which the feeler device is moved on any beat-up will obviously depend upon the thickness or amount of Weft or filling in the shuttle and will gradually decrease as the weft or filling becomes exhausted.

When the weft or filling is exhausted to a predetermined extent, the extent of movement of the feeler device will have diminished to a corresponding point, upon which it is intended that a filling-renewing or loom-stop mechanism be operated through the means now to be described.

A short incline E,serving as a vertically-operating cam, is provided upon the outer end or end farthest from the lay of the feeler device D as a convenient means to actuate a cooperating part E, secured to a first-class lever F. The relation of the incline E and part E is such that the heat-up of the lay will normally cause the incline E to engage and lower the part E, thereby elevating the opposite end of the lever F. Said lever is pivoted to a fixed part of the loom and is provided with a spring F, tending to elevate that end which carries the part E. The opposite end or arm of the lever F is preferably the longer and provided with a hook f,that may he upwardly extending, the purpose of Which will appear hereinafter.

G represents a rock-shaft that is mounted in hearings, one of which is shown at G. The rock-shaft is adapted to be operatively connected with a filling-renewing or loom-stop mechanism, for which purpose I preferably extend the shaft G to that side of the loom which is opposite the feeler device already described, as it is usually found most convenient to so locate the filling-renewing orloomstop mechanism.

Fast upon the shaft G is an upwardly-extending arm H through which the rock-shaft may be oscillated. The arm H is preferably of an inverted-L shape,the horizontal branch H being fitted to support a sliding block I, which is for convenience inclosed in the branch H and has connected to ita red 1, extending through an opening in the end of branch H, which rod is also spring-inclosed, the spring t" tending to force the block I and rod I in a direction to throw the block I outwardly and draw the rod 1 inwardly,as shown in Fig. 3.

J representsa continuously-oscillating hunter that is located opposite and adapted to strike the projecting end of block I if the block should be in the outward position of Fig. 3 when the hunter is moving forwardly. In such case it is obvious the arm H will be carried forward with the hunter and by oscillating the rock-shaft G operate the filling-renewing or loom-stop mechanism. The hunter J is fast upon a short rock-shaftj, turning in a hearingj upon the breast-beam A (for convenience) of the loom, and upon the same short shaft is a second arm J, to which is pivoted a link J that extends to a suitable moving part of the loom and through which the oscillation of the hunter J is efiected, there being preferably one forward movement of the hunter for every two throws of the shuttle. It is not intended, however, that the hunter J shall strike the block I at every operation of the hunter. To normally withdraw the block I from the path of the hunter the following mechanism may be employed: A short stud K, fast to block I, passes through an extended slot provided in the branch H at 70, so as not to interfere with the sliding of block I, and said stud is provided with a roller K,that is adapted to engage the incline or cam-face Z of a cam L, fast upon or vibrating with the lay-beam.

The action of the vibrating cam L, it will be readily seen from Fig. 1, is upon each beat-up of the lay to force the roller K out of the normal or to the left in said figure. Upon the extremity of the rod 1 is a device 1' for engaging the hookfof the lever F.

The various parts described are so timed that when the cam L has operated to cause the block I, red I, and device ito move to the left, as in the position illustrated in Fig. 2, the lever F through the action of the cam upon the slide Dof the feeler device D will be tilted and the hookf elevated to engage the device t', thereby retaining the parts I I i in the manner and position shown in said figure until the lay has receded sufiiciently to permit the lever F to return to normal position and release the parts I I 2'. As the lay commences to recede the cam L disengages the roller, but it is ordinarily not until a slightly later period that lever F is permitted to return to normal. It is during this space of time that the hunter J moves forward and ordinarily passes by without striking the block I. (See Fig. 2.) v

The operation will now be clearly understood. As long as there is suflicient weft in the shuttle in use the block I will uniformly he held out'of the path of the hunter J, at the same time the hunteris passing forwardly, and thereby avoiding the swinging of the arm H upon the oscillating shaft G. When, however, the weft is gradually exhausted to a predetermined point,which may be upon complete failure or substantial exhaustion of the rock-shaft G and the filling-renewing or loomstop mechanism will be operated.

When a filling-renewing mechanism is employed at the opposite side of the loom from the parts described, it may of course be of any usual form, and it will preferably operate when the nearlyexhausted shuttle is thrown over to the shuttle-box at such side of the loom after having efiected the described operations of the exhaustion-detecting devices. The rock-shaft G will be returned to normal by any suitable means provided in' connection with the filling-renewing or loomstopping mechanisms when those mechanisms have been operated.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. In a loom the combination with the shuttle-box, of a movable feeler device, constructed and fitted to enter the shuttle in the shuttle-box when the lay beats up, whereby the movement of the feelerdeviceisundercontrol of the weft or filling in the shuttle, a lever device pivoted to oscillate in a plane substantially at right angles to the oscillation of said feeler device, means intermediate of said feeler device and said pivoted lever device, whereby the feeler device may effect such oscillation of the lever device so long as the weft is not exhausted to the predetermined point, a part for bringing about or controlling the operation of a weft or filling-renewing mechanism or a loom-stop mechanism, and operative means intermediate of said part and a moving part of the loom, said means under control of the said lever device,

whereby aloom-stop or filling-renewing mechanism may be operated upon failure or substantial exhaustion of the weft or filling.

2. In a loom the combination of a to-and-fro moving member adapted to vibrate inv harmony with the lay and under control of the Weft or filling in the shuttle in play, a part for bringing about or controlling the operation of a loom-stop or filling-renewing mechanism, mechanism adapted to intermittently actuate said part and a lever device pivoted to oscillate in a vertical plane through, and

under control of the said to-andfro moving member for preventing the actuation of such part, when the shuttle is well supplied with filling and for permitting its actuation upon the failure or substantial exhaustion of the weft or filling.

3. In a loom the combination of a movable feeler device constructed and fitted to enter the shuttle in play to press upon the weft therein, whereby the feeler device may vibrate in harmony with the lay, and its amplitude of vibration be under control of the filling or weft in the shuttle; mechanism for bringing about or controlling the operation of a loom-stop or filling-renewing mechanism; a moving part of the loom adapted to engage and actuate the said controlling mechanism; a cam for placing said mechanism in inoperative position, and means under control of the said feeler device for engaging to retain in inoperative position said mechanism, Whereby it may prevent the engagementof said moving part of the loom with said controlling mechanism to actuate it, untilthe failure or substantial exhaustion of the weft or filling in the shuttle, and then permit such ongagement.

4:. In a loom the combination with a feeler device vibrating in harmony with the lay, and under control of the eft or filling in the shuttle, a movable arm or member for bringing about or controlling the operation of, a loom-stop or filling-renewing apparatus, a power-actuated bunter, a reciprocating part carried on said movable arm or member adapted to be engaged by said bunter,whereby the movable arm or member is actuated, means to periodically reciprocate said reciprocating part to remove it from the action of.

said bnnter, or into inoperative position, a

catch device adapted to engage said recipro:

eating part to hold it in such inoperative position, while the said bunter passes its critical position, and means intermediate of the said feeler device and said catch device whereby the latter is moved periodically into operative position to prevent actuation of the aforesaid movable arm or member until the failure or substantial exhaustion of the weft.

5. In a loom the combination with a feeler device vibrating in harmony with the lay, its amplitude of vibration under control of the weft or filling in. the shuttle, a rock-shaft for bringin g about or controlling the operation of ICC a loom-stop or filling-renewing mechanism,

and mechanism for actuating said rock-shaft comprising an arm extending from the rockshaft, a reciprocating part carried on said arm, a continuously-moving hunter for en gaging said reciprocating part to actuatesaid rock-shaft, and mechanism under control of the said feeler device for removing the said reciprocating part from the path of said hunter when the shuttle is well supplied with weft or filling.

6. In a loom the combination with the lay and the shuttle-box thereof of the feeler device D vibrating in harmony with the lay, and

adapted to enter the shuttle in the shuttlebox A, whereby the amplitude of vibration of the feeler device is under control of'the filling or weft in the shuttle; a cam E operated by the ,feeler device to oscillate a lever F as long as 'sufficient quantity of weft or filling remains in the shuttle; said lever F'; a rock-shaftG for bringing about or controlling the operation of a loom-stop or filling-renewing mechanism, an arm as H, connected to said shaft, a movable slide I carried on said arm, a bunter J adapted to coact with said slide I to actuate arm H, a cam L carried by the lay for sliding said slide I and engaging hook devices if carried by said slide and said lever F respectively, substantially for the purpose described.

7. In a loom the combination with the lay of a movable arm or member for bringing about or controlling the operation of a weftrenewing or loom-stop apparatus, a reciprocating part carried on said arm or member, a spring acting on said part to hold it in normal or operative position, means, as a cam, for periodically moving said part against the action of said spring, and an intermittently-actuated and weft-controlled device for engaging and holding said part in inoperative position, and a hunter for actuating said part when said weft-controlled device fails to engage the same, whereby a weft-renewing or loom-stop mechanism may be brought into operation upon failure or substantial exhaustion of the weft in the shuttle.

8. In a loom the combination with the lay of a device fitted to move to and fro in barmony with the lay provided with a member for entering the shuttle to coact with the weft therein, whereby the amplitude of movement of said to-and-fro device is controlled by the quantity of weft in the shuttle; a hunter, and mechanism actuated thereby adapted to control or bring about the operation of a loomstopping or weft-renewing apparatus; means for intermittently moving said mechanism into inoperative position; and a lever device for intermittently maintaining said mechanism in such inoperative position; and means intermediate said lever device and said toand-fro device for producing such intermittent movement of said lever device, until the amplitude of movement of said to-and-fro device reaches a predetermined point.

9. In a loom the combination with the lay of a feeler device adapted to move to and fro in harmony with the lay, its amplitude of movement under control of the weft in the shuttle; mechanism for bringing about or controlling the operation of a loom-stopping or filling-renewing apparatus, said mechanism including a shifting block; a moving part of the loom for engaging said block to actuate said mechanism; a second moving part of the loom for shifting said block out of the path of said first-named moving part; means for returning said block to normal position; a lever device adapted and fitted to be oscillated by said feeler device until the weft is exhausted to a predetermined extent, and means intermediate of said lever device and said shifting block whereby said lever device mayintermittently retain said shifting block in its inoperative position, and thereby prevent the operation of the loom-stopping or filling-renewing mechanism until the predetermined exhaustion of weft.

10. In a loom the combination with the lay of the feeler device D for coacting with the weft in the shuttle in play, and operated to move to and fro in harmony with the vibrations of the lay, the oscillating lever device F, the cam E constituting means whereby the feeler device may oscillate the lever device when there is sufiicient weft in the shuttle, the rock-shaft G adapted to be connected with loom-stopping, or weft-renewing apparatus, the arm H carried thereon, the shifting block I fitted to said arm to actuate shaft G, the oscillating cam L for shifting said block I to inoperative position, and a hook f carried on said lever device F, adapted to retain said block I in inoperative position While the ,bunter J is actuated.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

J OI-IANN HEINRICH KLERX.

Witnesses:

F. J. PURDY, GEo. E. DEPPEN. 

